The transformation of a Fredonia medical clinic to a community-based residential facility has been nothing short of stunning.Hilltop View, the seven-room CBRF at 130 Meyer Ave., offers all of the comforts and security of home for the elderly as well as those with developmental disabilities and terminal illness.The facility is owned by Heather Stautz and her husband James. Debra Richards is the administrator.The ranch-style building had previously been a doctor’s office, dental clinic and eye doctor’s office.“We gutted pretty much the entire building, knocking out walls, putting in new ceilings, windows and floors and installing a sprinkler system and automated alarms,” Heather Stautz said.“Every day, I would stop in and check out the progress, and go, ‘Oh, my goodness.’ The only thing we left alone was the exterior, and we painted that.”Much of the work was done by her father James Richards, a contractor from Birnamwood. Local tradesmen were relied on heavily for the building project.The conversion took place in short order, starting last July with completion in September.State licensing was completed early this year, and five residents have already moved into the building. Three of those residents are from Fredonia.“The licensing took a little longer than we hoped, but we were able to get a full license instead of the usual probationary license because of the good record we have at the other facility,” Stautz said.That other facility is Woodland View, another CBRF that Stautz and her husband own at 348 S. Milwaukee St., Fredonia. That facility has room for six residents.Stautz said Woodland View has consistently been at full capacity, which led to the quest for a second site.The facilities share a staff of nine, with personnel on site around the clock.Stautz works 70 hours week as a caregiver at the buildings.She said caring for the elderly is a calling she loves, but a far cry from her days working at the Charter Steel plant in Saukville. Her husband still works at Charter.“I was doing respite care on weekends when a friend from work told me his parents were looking to sell the CBRF they were running in Fredonia. That’s when we decided to buy the building from the Hebeins,” Stautz said.Now, with two CBRFs to run, she said she is immersed in meeting the needs of the residents.“I’ve had my stressful moments, usually followed shortly thereafter by chocolate,” Stautz said.While settling in to the responsibility of running two assisted-living facilities, Stautz said she doesn’t see any more expansions on the near horizon.“I think two is good for now,” Stautz said.